"I understand he’s a young guy,” Whitner said. "He’s made a few mistakes in his career, and when you hit rock bottom the way he did, there’s nowhere else to go but up.”

Gordon, who is expected to hear something from the league about a possible reinstatement in mid-March, was listed at 6-3, 225 when he last played in 2014. Whitner said that Gordon is back in playing shape and ready to return to the field.

Josh Gordon led the league in receiving yards in 2013.

"Over the last couple months, just watching him, watching Instagram and the hard work that he put in, the transformation that he made with his body, I remember seeing him at the 9 (hotel) downtown and him being like 255 pounds, and then going on down to four or five or sixth months later, shedding 20, 25, 30 pounds and looking like he did before the suspension started,” he said. "I understand that he’s very dedicated. I understand that he can go out there and do anything he wants to do on the football field.”

Gordon, who has been suspended each of his first three seasons in the league, led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,646 in 14 games in 2013, his second season in the league.